ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's crew began its 2020 season in Georgia for its annual spring break training trip. That quickly proved to be the only rowing the team would do this spring, as the season unexpectedly ended due to the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team had exactly one race - a scrimmage - before packing up and heading back to New York to begin a new normal.

Q&A with Kelly Csernica – Women's Crew – Lewisburg, Pa.
 
•  Can you talk about your personal progression through this season? High points, low points, and what you were excited for to accomplish personally as well as a team?
 
The spring season held a lot of potential for the team as whole as well as for me individually. We had a very deep team this year that led to close competition between our four boats. Our 1V and 2V were the closest in speed to each other they've been in a number of years. Ideally, these margins are close – not only does it make each boat push each other during practice, but success in each respective race category helps add up points for an overall team win. Our team was strong as a whole, and we were all looking forward to seeing what we could do come racing season.
Personally, I was having my best year yet – I hit some big 5k and 2k PRs in the fall and winter. It was exciting to see that all the training I had been putting in was showing in my performance, and I was ready to see how much farther I could take that.
 
•  Talk about the days leading up to the news that the season was announced to be canceled. Where were you competing? What was your mindset? What was the mindset of the team?
 
During our spring training trip to Gainesville, Ga., the news of different programs and leagues being shut down kept arriving day-by-day. First, it was the Ivy League, then NESCAC (whichmakes up a large portion of our championship season). When the Patriot League canceled, the Navy men's team, rowing out of the same facility as us, left training early. It was painful to see them load their trailer and start heading North before the week on the water was over.  The same outcome for IC was slowly becoming inevitable.
Despite each arrival of news, our entire team did our best to stay optimistic. There was no loss of intensity or focus as different updates came in each day. Our whole team was still together, practicing twice a day, putting in the work for a future season. Our focus was put on the actions that we have control over – our effort in practice, attention to detail, and work to make changes that would make us faster.
 
•  What were your emotions/thoughts/feelings when you received the news that the Championships/Season was officially canceled?
 
When I heard that the NCAA championships for the spring were canceled, it didn't really hit me. We were in a setting and a routine so conditioned with a spring season that anything altering that couldn't be real. I honestly tried to stop myself from letting it feel real for as long as possible. I knew that if I thought about the reality of it, I would shut down and not be fully present for the last few days with my team. Instead, I could show leadership through how I responded to such a devastating situation - by putting in continual effort and energy in the last practices and maximizing the time I was spending with my teammates.
 
•  What happened next? Describe the aftermath of the situation. What happened in the days following?
 
While there was no loss of determination in our team, emotions ran much higher. Our race at the end of the week was no longer just a scrimmage with no pressure – it was our first race, our senior day, our States, our national championship, all in one. Each stroke was a representation of a lost opportunity, and I think every rower knew how significant those seven minutes would be. 
Everything hit me at the start line on Saturday morning. I started crying as we lined up our bow balls, but quickly had to shut myself down. I wouldn't perform my best if I was busy crying, and knew I had to give this race everything I had. I took a deep breath, went through my mental performance routine, and sat ready for my last race as a Bomber.
 
•  What comes next? How have you adjusted to the new situation? How have you mentally coped with the new reality? How have you stayed connected with the program and teammates while social distancing?
 
The next steps for me are very up in the air – unlike most other seniors on the women's team, I'm not in a five or six year program at IC. The extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA won't affect me. Come next year, I'll be watching my best friends, who I've worked my butt off with for four years, go for a national championship without me. It's going to be incredibly hard, but I know that their experience, leadership, and inspiration from the lost season will be an incredible force on the team moving forward.
Even through social distance from all over the US, our team is still connected and encouraging. We take part in weekly team meetings online, rotate posting a "workout of the day," having a 30-day pushup challenge, and practicing team yoga over Zoom. While it's a much different spring setting than we're used to, the energy can still be felt throughout the team. We're all in this situation together – not just IC crew, but rowing teams across the country – and the closer we remain now, the stronger we will become at the end of this.